By Liz Morningstar, quotes Mary Hendrickson
The Maneater, University of Missouri
October 10, 2003
Read on line at: http://www.themaneater.com/story.cgi?id=17172
McDonald’s supersized some public school budgets this week. Teachers, principals and other school officials visited local McDonald’s restaurants to greet customers and show support in order to receive 20 percent of the profits between 4 and 8 p.m. Tuesday at McTeacher’s night. More than 400 McDonald’s locations across the state participated.
McTeacher’s night began in Missouri in March and raised $215,000 in its first two events, McDonald’s spokeswoman Heather Buffington said. She said she believes this McTeacher’s night raised more than the first two, though she did not have the official numbers yet.
Most restaurants sponsor one school or school group, but Buffington said it depemds on the restraunt. McDonald’s then donates the money directly to the schools to use for whatever purpose they choose, she said.
Matt Bishop, a manager for the McDonald’s on Stadium Boulevard, said the restaurant was busy the entire night and took 504 orders in the four-hour span. McDonald’s will donate 20 percent of those profits to West Boulevard Elementary.
Elementary schools are not the only schools who can benefit from McTeacher’s night, Buffington said. The program is open to all schools including public, private and parochial schools and all levels, even higher education.
Even though some, including Bishop, said they believe McTeacher’s night is a great event to raise money for schools, others are worried about the possible health problems that encouraging young children to eat at McDonald’s may produce.
“This event promotes a concept that eating at McDonald’s is a good idea,” said Mary Hendrickson, assistant professor of rural sociology. “While McDonald’s has made some strides in providing healthier menu options, most of the foods that children like to eat do not fit in that category.”
Buffington said she does not believe McTeacher’s night has a negative impact on children’s nutrition.
“McDonald’s has a range of menu items, and there is a lot of variety for people and children to choose from,” Buffington said. “We have been designing products and menu choices that cater to all types of tastes.”
“Schools have short-term money issues,” Hendrickson said. “It is often difficult to handle these issues while considering the long-term potential harm of not eating healthy. Schools are basically forced into a catch-22.”
Helping school budgets is the goal of the McTeacher’s program, Buffington said.
“Budgets are tight, and we are happy to be able to help in
any way that we can,” Buffington said. “Programs that give back to education
are extremely important in today’s world.” However, Hendrickson said there are
other options, and schools should consider fund-raisers that incorporate
healthy foods and foods that are produced locally.